Disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A magnetic disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprises a frame, a recording/reproducing unit detachably mounted on a frame and a front panel detachably mounted on the frame and having an inserting opening through which the magnetic disc is inserted and removed. The frame is primarily designed to accommodate a first recording/reproducing unit adapted for a first magnetic disc and is selectively mounted with either one of the first recording/reproducing unit adapted for a first magnetic disc and is selectively mounted with either one of the first recording/reproducing unit adapted for a second magnetic disc having a smaller diameter. Depending on the selected recording/reproducing unit, either one of a first front panel for the first magnetic disc and a second front panel for a second magnetic disc is selectively mounted on the frame.

This application is a continuation of application No. 067,928, filedJune 29, 1987 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to disc recording and/orreproducing apparatuses, and more particularly to a magnetic discrecording and/or reproducing apparatus in which a firstrecording/reproducing unit having a recording and reproducing head and adisc driving mechanism for recording and/or reproducing informationsignals on and/or from a first magnetic disc having a first diameter anda second recording/reproducing unit similarly designed by adapted for asecond magnetic disc having a second diameter are selectively useddepending on which one of the first and second magnetic discs is to beplayed.

Generally, electronic information processing systems such as personalcomputers, word processors and the like use a magnetic disc recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as an external memory device. In such amagnetic disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus, informationsignals are magnetically recorded and reproduced on and from a magneticdisc.

Currently, there exist magnetic discs having a standardized diameterssuch as 3.5 inches, 5.25 inches, 8 inches and the like. Various magneticdisc recording and/or reproducing apparatuses are designed forrespective sizes of the magnetic discs. Usually, an electronicinformation processing system uses only one type of the magnetic discrecording and/or reproducing apparatus which is designed exclusively forplaying a particular magnetic disc having a particular diameter. Thus,only one type of the magnetic disc can be used in an electronicinformation processing system.

For example, an electronic information processing system incorporating amagnetic disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus designed for amagnetic disc having a diameter of 5.25 inches cannot use a smallermagnetic disc having a diameter of 3.5 inches nor a larger magnetic dischaving a diameter of 8 inches. Thus, there is a problem in that theelectronic information processing system cannot use information andsoftware recorded on a magnetic disc having a diameter of 3.5 inches or8 inches. A similar problem arises when a software frequently used inthe information processing system is recorded on a magnetic disc havinga diameter of 3.5 inches or 8 inches and the software cannot be copiedon a magnetic disc having a diameter of 5.25 inches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providea novel and useful magnetic disc recording and/or reproducing apparatuswherein the problems aforementioned are eliminated.

Another and more specific object of the present invention is to providea magnetic disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus which is to beincorporated within a body of an information processing system having aninformation processing circuit therein and comprises a frame primarilydesigned to accommodate a first recording/reproducing unit for recordingand/or reproducing an information signal on and/or from a first magneticdisc having a first diameter, a recording/reproducing unit detachablymounted in the frame for recording and/or reproducing an informationsignal on and/or from a magnetic disc, and a front panel having amagnetic disc inserting opening and detachably mounted at an front endof the frame. The frame is selectively and detachable mounted witheither one of the aforementioned first recording/reproducing unit and asecond recording/reproducing unit for recording and/or reproducing aninformation signal on and/or from a second magnetic disc having a seconddiameter which is smaller than the first diameter. Further, the frame isselectively and detachably mounted with either one of a first frontpanel having a first magnetic disc inserting opening adapted forreceiving the first magnetic disc and a second front panel having asecond magnetic disc inserting opening adapted for receiving the secondmagnetic disc at the aforementioned front end of the frame incorrespondence with the selected one of the first and secondrecording/reproducing units. The first and second recording/reproducingunits respectively have first and second connectors at a rear endthereof for engagement with a third connector provided at a distal endof a cable extending from the information processing circuit of theinformation processing system. According to the present invention,magnetic discs having various diameters can be used in a magnetic discrecording and/or reproducing apparatus assembled within a body of anelectronic information processing system such as a personal computer ora word processor. In the magnetic disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus according to the present invention, an intervening member mayfurther be connected to the second recording/reproducing unit. Theintervening member has a fourth connector at a front end thereof forengagement with the second connector at the rear end of the secondrecording/reproducing unit. The intervening member further has a fifthconnector at a rear end thereof for engagement with the third connectorat the distal end of the cable. With this intervening member connectedto the rear end of the second recording/reproducing unit, any space thatmay be formed in the frame at a rear portion of the unit due to asmaller outer dimension of the second recording/reproducing unit ascompared to that of the first recording/reproducing unit is closed. Thusa problem of a shortage of cable length which arises in the abovedescribed case due to the smaller outer dimension of the secondrecording/reproducing unit is solved without the need for an extensionor modification of the cable.

Other objects and further features of the present invention will beapparent from the following description when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the magnetic discrecording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention in a state where a recording/reproducing unit adapted for afirst magnetic disc having a diameter of 5.25 inches is mounted therein;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the magnetic disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the magneticdisc recording and/or reproducing apparatus in a state where arecording/reproducing unit adapted for a second magnetic disc having adiameter of 3.25 inches is mounted therein;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the magnetic disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the recording/reproducing unit shownin FIG. 3 along a line A--A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the magnetic disc recording and/orreproducing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 showsan apparatus 10 adapted to use a first magnetic disc having a firstdiameter referred to hereinafter as a first disc. In the descriptionhereinafter, the first disc is assumed to have a diameter of 5.25 inchesand a second disc to be described later is assumed to have a diameter of3.5 inches for conveniences' sake.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 comprises a frame 12 incorporatedin a body 11 of an electronic information processing system such as apersonal computer and a word processor. A recording/reproducing unit 13for holding the first disc and for recording and/or reproducing aninformation signal on and/or from the disc is detachably mounted on theframe 12 by known means such as screws (not shown). The frame 12 ismounted to a shelf portion 14 in the body 11 by screws 15. Therecording/reproducing unit 13 itself is known and comprises a circuitboard 16 which is mounted with a known magnetic disc holding mechanism,magnetic heads, magnetic disc driving mechanism and the like as well asassociated electronic circuits. These parts are located underside of theboard 16 and cannot be seen in FIG. 1. At a rear edge of the board 16are formed plugs (not shown) to be engaged with corresponding sockets18a and 18b which are provided at ends of respective cables 17a and 17bextending from a signal processing circuit (not shown) in the electronicinformation processing system. It should be noted that therecording/reproducing unit 13 is mounted on the frame 12 by known meanssuch as screws in a detachable manner. At a front side of the body 11 ofthe information processing system is provided a front opening 19 adaptedto allow insertion of the first disc. Further, a front panel 20 havingan outer dimension adapted to the front opening 19 is detachably mountedto a front end of the frame 12 by using known means such as fitting orscrews.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the front panel 20 and shows a magnetic discinserting opening 21 provided in the front panel 20. The opening 21 isadapted for accepting the first disc.

In an information processing system incorporating a magnetic discrecording and/or reproducing apparatus, there are instances that a userwishes to use information or software recorded on a second disc having asmaller diameter such as 3.5 inches. In the conventional magnetic discrecording and/or reproducing apparatus designed for the first disc,however, a recording/reproducing unit cannot be replaced with anotherrecording/reproducing unit designed for the second disc. Thus, such aconventional magnetic disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus is notcompatible with the second disc.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the magnetic disc recording and/orreproducing apparatus according to the present invention. In theapparatus in FIG. 3, a recording/reproducing unit 32 designed to use asecond disc is used in place of the recording/reproducing unit 13. InFIG. 3, those parts which are identical to those corresponding parts inFIG. 1 are designated by same reference numerals and the descriptionthereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 3, a magnetic disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus 30 comprises a frame identical to the frame 12 used in themagnetic disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1.The frame 12 is mounted to the shelf portion 14 in the body 11 of theelectronic information processing system by screws 15. Therecording/reproducing unit 32 mounted in the frame 12 is designed toplay a second disc 31 shown in FIG. 3 inserted thereto and recordsand/or reproduces an information signal to and from the magnetic disc.It should be noted that the recording/reproducing unit 32 is mounted onthe frame in a detachable manner by known means such as screws (notshown). The recording/reproducing unit 32 for the second disc 31 isknown and comprises a circuit board 33 which is mounted with magneticdisc holding mechanism, magnetic heads, driving mechanism, associatedelectronic circuits and the like (as shown in FIG. 5 which will beexplained later). These parts are located underside of the board 33 andcan be seen only partially in FIG. 3. At the front end of the frame 12is fixed a front panel 38 in a detachable manner by known means such asfitting or screws (as shown in FIG. 4 which will be explained later).The recording/reproducing unit 32 is mounted on the frame 12 adjacent tothe front panel 38 in a detachable manner by known means such as screws.The recording/reproducing unit 32 for the second disc generally has anouter dimension, smaller than the outer dimension of therecording/reproducing unit 13 for the first disc. As a result, a space39 is formed in the frame 12 adjacent to a rear end of therecording/reproducing unit 32. At a rear end of the board 33 areprovided plugs . .41 and 42.!. .Iadd.40 and 41 .Iaddend.to which areengaged corresponding sockets 18a and 18b provided at the respectiveends of the cables 17a and 17b extending from the information processingcircuit of the electronic information processing system.

The cables 17a and 17b are usually adapted to the recording/reproducingunit 13 designed for the first disc, so there are instances where thelength of the cable is insufficient when the recording/reproducing unit32 for the second disc is to be used. There are also cases where rate ofdriving current and information signal formats are different between therecording/reproducing units 13 and 32. In order to overcome thisproblem, the present invention uses an intervening member 43 comprisinga circuit board 42. At one end of the intervening member 43 are formedplugs 44 and 45 to be engaged with correspond sockets 18a and 18b, andat the other end of the intervening member 43 are provided sockets 46and 47 which are engaged with corresponding plugs 40 and 41. Theintervening member 43 is further adapted to have such a length that themember extends over the space 39. Thus, when the intervening member 43is connected to the board 33 by engaging the sockets 46 and 47 tocorresponding plugs 40 and 41, the member 43 closes the space 39. Theintervening member 43, after being connected to the board 33, is fixedto the frame 12 in a detachable manner at supporting parts 49 and 50formed in the frame 12 by screws 51 and 52. As the intervening member 43connected to the board 33 extends over the space 39, the plugs 44 and 45which are engaged by the sockets 18a and 18b are located at positionsidentical to those of the aforementioned plugs formed at the rear edgeof the board 16. Thus, the same cables 17a and 17b can be used for bothof the cases where the first disc is used and the 3.25 inch magneticdisc is used. Accordingly, an extension of the cables 17a and 17b is notrequired even when the second disc is used in combination with therecording/reproducing unit 32. Further, electronic devices such asintegrated circuits (ICs) 53 and 54 for converting the driving currentor information signal format may be mounted on the board 42 of theintervening member 43 according to the needs.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the front panel 38 and shows a magnetic discinserting opening 56 adapted for insertion of the second disc 31 and amagnetic disc ejecting button 57 for taking out the magnetic disc fromthe apparatus 30. As described before, the front panel 38 is mounted tothe front end of the frame 12 in a detachable manner by known means suchas fitting or screws. The front panel 38 has an outer dimension which isidentical to the outer dimension of the front panel 20. Thus, the frontpanel 38 fits in the opening 19 formed in the front side of the body 11.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing the recording/reproducing unit32 along a line A--A in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows the magnetic disc 31 housedin a cartridge 60, driving mechanism 36 comprising a driving motor 61,magnetic heads 35a and 35b, and head arms 62a and 62b. The second discis housed in the cartridge 60 and inserted into the apparatus 30 throughthe magnetic disc inserting opening 56. Thus, the magnetic disc 31 isheld between a pair of magnetic heads 35a and 35b carried on the headarms 62a and 62b. The magnetic disc 31 is driven by the drivingmechanism 36 comprising the motor 61. In the drawing, a known cartridgelowering mechanism used to lower the cartridge is not shown forsimplifying the drawing. Further, the construction of therecording/reproducing unit 13 is generally identical to that of therecording/reproducing unit 33 except for the dimension, and thedescription thereof is therefore, omitted. It should be noted, however,that the space 39 does not exist in case the recording/reproducing unit13 is used.

In case the user wishes to use the second disc in the electronicinformation processing system incorporating the magnetic disc recordingand/or reproducing apparatus 10 adapted for the first disc, the sockets18a and 18b at the end of the cables 17a and 17b are disconnected fromthe corresponding plugs on the board 16. Next, the screws 15 are removedand the apparatus 10 is removed from the body 11 of the electronicinformation processing system. Further, the front panel 20 of theapparatus 10 is removed from the frame 12 and the front panel 38 ismounted in place thereof on the frame 12 by screws or other means notshown. Then, the recording/reproducing unit 13 mounted on the frame isremoved and the recording/reproducing unit 32 is mounted in placethereof in a detachable manner. Next, the intervening member 43 isconnected to the board 33 of the recording/reproducing unit 32 byconnecting the sockets 46 and 47 to corresponding plugs 40 and 41. Theintervening member 43 is then fixed to the supporting part on the frame12 by screws 51 and 52. Thus, the magnetic disc recording and/orreproducing apparatus 30 is assembled, and the assembled apparatus 30 isfixed to the shelf portion 14 in the body 11 of the electronicinformation processing system by the screw 15. Finally, the sockets 18aand 18b of the cables 17a and 17b are connected to the connectors 44 and45.

In an opposite case in which the user wishes to use the first disc inthe electronic information processing system incorporating the magnetdisc recording and/or reproducing apparatus 30 adapted for the seconddisc, the recording/reproducing unit 32 is replaced by therecording/reproducing unit 13, and the front panel 38 is replaced by thefront panel 20 according to an opposite procedure to that explainedbefore. Thus, the sockets 18a and 18b at the end of the cables 17a and17b are disconnected. Then, the screws 15 are removed and the apparatus30 is removed from the body 11 of the electronic information processingsystem. Thereafter, the front panel 38 is removed from the frame 12 andthe front panel 20 is mounted on the frame 12 in place thereof. Inaddition, the screws 51 and 52 are removed and the intervening member 43is disconnected from the recording/reproducing unit 32 by disengagingthe sockets 46 and 47 from the plugs 40 and 41. Further, therecording/reproducing unit 32 is removed from the frame 12 and therecording/reproducing unit 13 is mounted in place thereof in adetachable manner. Therefore, the magnetic disc recording and/orreproducing apparatus 10 is assembled and fixed to the shelf portion inthe body 11 by screws 15. Finally, the cables 17a and 17b are connectedby engaging the sockets 18a and 18b to the respective plugs on the board16.

Heretofore, it is assumed that the first disc has a diameter of 5.25inches and the second disc has a diameter of 3.5 inches. However, thepresent invention is applicable to any other discs having differentdiameters so long as the diameter of the first disc is larger than thediameter of the second disc. For example, the diameter of the first discmay be 8 inches and the diameter of the second disc may be 5.25 inchesor 3.5 inches.

Further, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, butvarious variations and modifications may be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is: . .
 1. A magnetic disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus for cooperation with an external information processing systemfor recording and/or reproduction of digital data on and from a flexiblemagnetic disc comprising:a frame having a size substantially identicalto a standardized frame used in a first standardized magnetic recordingand/or reproducing apparatus for accommodating a firstrecording/reproducing unit for recording and/or reproducing a digitaldata on and from a first standardized flexible magnetic disc having afirst standardized diameter, said frame being adapted to be mounted on abody of the external information processing system in a detachablemanner; a second recording/reproducing unit mounted on said frame forrecording and/or reproducing a digital data on and from a secondstandardized flexible magnetic disc having a second standardizeddiameter smaller than the first standardized diameter, said secondrecording/reproducing unit having a second size substantially smallerthan the size of the first recording/reproducing unit; a front panelclosing a front end of the frame and having an inserting opening with asize so as to allow insertion of said second standardized flexiblemagnetic disc therethrough; and a connector mounted on a rear end of thesecond recording/reproducing unit, said connector having a designidentical to a standardized connector used in the first standardizedapparatus; and an intervening member connected to said rear end of thesecond record/reproducing unit, said intervening member having a sizemeasured perpendicularly to the front panel such that an overall size ofthe second recording/reproducing unit and the intervening memberconnected to the second recording/reproducing unit becomes substantiallyidentical to that of the first recording/reproducing unit when measuredperpendicularly to the front panel, said intervening member carrying asocket corresponding to said connector at a first side making contactwith the rear end of the second recording/reproducing unit and a secondconnector on a second side opposite to said first side, and electricallyconnecting the second recording/reproducing unit to the externalinformation processing system..!..Iadd.
 2. A magnetic disc recordingand/or reproducing apparatus for cooperation with an externalinformation processing system for recording and/or reproduction ofdigital data on and from a flexible magnetic disc comprising:a framehaving a size substantially identical to a standardized frame used in afirst standardized magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus foraccommodating a first recording/reproducing unit for recording and/orreproducing a digital data on and from a first standardized flexiblemagnetic disc having a first standardized diameter, said frame beingadapted to be mounted on a body of the external information processingsystem in a detachable manner; a second recording/reproducing unitmounted on said frame for recording and/or reproducing a digital data onand from a second standardized flexible magnetic disc having a secondstandardized diameter smaller than the first standardized diameter, saidsecond recording/reproducing unit having a second size substantiallysmaller than the size of the first recording/reproducing unit; a frontpanel closing a front end of the frame and having an inserting openingwith a size so as to allow insertion of said second standardizedflexible magnetic disc therethrough; and a connector mounted on a rearend of the second recording/reproducing unit, said connector having adesign facilitating features identical to a standardized connector usedin the first standardized apparatus; and an intervening member connectedto said rear end of the second recording/reproducing unit, saidintervening member having a size measured perpendicularly to the frontpanel such that an overall size of the second recording/reproducing unitand the intervening member connected to the second recording/reproducingunit becomes substantially identical to that of the firstrecording/reproducing unit when measured perpendicularly to the frontpanel, said intervening member carrying a socket corresponding to saidconnector at a first side making contact with the rear end of the secondrecording/reproducing unit and a second connector on a second sideopposite to said first side providing said features identical to thestandardized connector, and electrically connecting the secondrecording/reproducing unit to the external information processingsystem..Iaddend..Iadd.
 3. A magnetic disc recording and/or reproducingapparatus for cooperation with an external information processing systemfor recording and/or reproduction of digital data on and from a flexiblemagnetic disc comprising:a frame having a size substantially identicalto a standardized frame used in a first standardized magnetic recordingand/or reproducing apparatus for accommodating a firstrecording/reproducing unit for recording and/or reproducing a digitaldata on and from a first standardized flexible magnetic disc having afirst standardized diameter, said frame being adapted to be mounted on abody of the external information processing system in a detachablemanner; a second recording/reproducing unit mounted on said frame forrecording and/or reproducing a digital data on and from a secondstandardized flexible magnetic disc having a second standardizeddiameter smaller than the first standardized diameter, said secondrecording/reproducing unit having a second size substantially smallerthan the size of the first recording/reproducing unit; a front panelclosing a front end of the frame and having an inserting opening with asize so as to allow insertion of said second standardized flexiblemagnetic disc therethrough; a first connector mounted on a rear end ofthe second recording/reproducing unit; and an intervening memberconnected to said rear end of the second recording/reproducing unit andhaving a second connector, said second connector having a designidentical to a standardized connector used in the first standardizedapparatus, wherein said intervening member has a size measuredperpendicularly to the front panel such that an overall size of thesecond recording/reproducing unit and the intervening member connectedto the second recording/reproducing unit becomes substantially identicalto that of the first recording/reproducing unit when measuredperpendicularly to the front panel, said intervening member carrying asocket corresponding to said first connector at a first side makingcontact with the rear end of the second recording/reproducing unit andsaid second connector on a second side opposite to said first side, andelectrically connecting the second recording/reproducing unit to theexternal information processing system..Iaddend.